AncestryDNA® - Make the Most of Your Match List | Webinar Series | Ancestry®

[@Mokmanrs]

Absolutely create a tree to go along with your DNA test. There is nothing more frustrating as a researcher than to have an interesting match that doesn't have a tree and hasn't logged on in the last year. The odds of learning anything from that match is about zero.

[@SamStone1964]

It's only zero if you have no shared matches and they have no location listed and a non searchable name (because it's a nickname or too common).

[@lionheart830]

@@SamStone1964 Yes, it gets my goat when they make a nickname yet no doubt have a Facebook page that has their real name and everything they do every day.

[@megb9700]

Remember to add siblings to each generation too. Many people only list their direct relatives, but cousins need to find how they are related.

[@larrymcclain8874]

I have been able to piece together trees if they at least have some minimal info, but it is a challenge. But even without a tree, I can use the match list and come up with a probable tree, depending on the cM strength. It's difficult but doable.

[@lionheart830]

@@larrymcclain8874 I'd love to learn your method.

[@stampingandstitching5947]

It's great that I can see whether matches are on my maternal or paternal side. What I would love (please, please, 😁) to know about my matches is whether I match on their paternal or maternal side. It would save me trying to build trees on both sides of their family, when the relationship is more than likely just on one side. Some matches have been very helpful in letting me know this information, but, unfortunately, the vast majority don't respond. Thanks.

[@chibi171]

I second this strongly!

[@martiphone4884]

You can sort your matches by "Parent".

[@stampingandstitching5947]

​@martiphone4884 Thanks for that. I have my matches sorted into maternal and paternal groups. But with some (a lot really!) matches I don't know how we are related. If I could find out whether the family connection is in on my match's maternal or paternal side, it would be a huge help for me to know where to look for the connection.

[@lovingnature1151]

​@@stampingandstitching5947Yes! This would save so much time and eliminate extra work! 😃

[@GramGram6]

The number before the group is what I’ve been doing for a while and haven’t seen anyone doing that til today! It’s so easy and keeps the colors straight when you look at the groups as I don’t need to see if it’s a paternal side or maternal side because of the colors. If I need to go further in a group, I sub group as 1a- different shade of red. So easy

[@GramGram6]

Also I always make groups 1-4 paternal and group 5-8 maternal, all dna kits I manage I keep the same color and groups.

[@5homegirl]

I am not a beginner, but I think this is good for all levels. Thank you. I learned so much.

[@CristaCowan]

You are very welcome! 😊😊

[@lorettaklein2837]

This has been great information. I will play this again and work through my DNA results. Thank you for carefully leading us through the dynamics.

[@5homegirl]

I am watching this 4 weeks after this episode went live. Question 1: I took the DNA test because I was interested in genealogy, and I wanted to know where my ancestors came from.

[@cartyboo1]

Fabulous! I needed a refresher in DNA, and I learned a lot, too!

[@dannyoconnell6608]

I love being able to learn from you again. I had done some work with Groups in my match list years ago, got confused & deleted them. Now I have started again and already finding new relationships

[@annettemcmullen4759]

Just able to watch this and so glad I did. Working on my groups now. Thanks for all your help!!!

[@CristaCowan]

You are very welcome! 😊😊

[@barbaraolsen5674]

Thank you for your advice thru the years! It's amazing how far things progressed!

[@AncestryUS]

You're welcome! We're so glad you've found it helpful!

[@LesKing-k7k]

I Like the way you have numbered the groups with the colors.

[@ElsaFernandez-qf7yq]

I took ancestry DNA in 2017 and created a tree, I took it to clarify a decendancy to one of my ancestors, the DNA test was right on target

[@stephenhammond1745]

Thanks to Ancestry DNA test I was able to identify my father's biological mother and narrow his father down to one of two brothers.Unfortunately, as far as I can discover, neither of those brothers had any other children so I may never be able to identify exactly which one it was.

[@nicholeann2886]

thank you for showing how you assign the colors for matches! it was very helpful. I will have to rewatch this when I am able to sit down and do this with my matches. I am trying to break a brick wall with my 3x great grandma on the maternal side. Thankfully, I have my grandmother's, my mother's, and my DNA. Obviously my grandmother's is what I am using to work this. I am also going to do mtDNA full sequence testing with FamilyTreeDNA to help as well. ❤

[@laurieallen8040]

I have taken a DNA test and I did take it to initially get matches to help Perfect or prove my tree. Make sure I was falling the right path and secondarily to try to break through some brick walls.

[@charlesbarnard2744]

Greetings from Bermuda Crista! Just deleted my old groups and in the process of redoing...So much better!!!! I enjoyed your presentation as always. DNA tested, Love the new pro tools!

[@CristaCowan]

Wahoo! Thanks for being here. 😊😊

[@trishnamor1907]

Fantastic ty so much. How did you make the heart and color it red that you typed into suffix spot please

[@sandramuis7430]

Definitely a huge help in our search! Thank you! 😁👍🎄

[@TtaschiaWenzel-u5c]

Loved this....thank you

[@KimJones-ee3ps]

I did find a mystery match. A 2nd cousin. From there, I learned that my mother's biological father wasn't the father who brought her up. I have since had a match, which I believe is my half aunt. So I may have found my mums biological father.

[@1raven1968]

OMG, such great info! I'll be binge working on Ancestry as soon as I get these Christmas quilts done! 😊❤

[@CristaCowan]

How did the Christmas quilts turn out?

[@1raven1968]

@CristaCowan Amazing. They were made for my gentleman friends two adult children who lost their mom about eight years ago out of some of her clothing. I made one for each child, one for the two grands and I surprised him with one.

[@1raven1968]

@CristaCowan Thank you for asking.

[@matttolmanaz]

With the new ability to make 64 groups, I do have one suggestion to pass along. Expand the number to 2 digits in the colored box instead of 1 digit.

[@CristaCowan]

Thank you for the excellent suggestion. I will pass it along to the team.

[@AussieKool]

I have found three brickwalls in the one day, Don't ask me how i did it but i had a lot more dna matches after that, Also i have been going through the dna shared matches and add close family members and i can tell you it is not always easy, Is there anything else i can do ?

[@dreamweaver1832]

Found out I have twin half sisters. What a big shocker!❤

[@CristaCowan]

😲😲😲😲

[@patriciawilcox9974]

I had colour coded groups but im going to redo them and really get to focus on those brick walls

[@ElaineWilliams-v4i]

Poll 1…Taken a test and still scratching my head with some of the matches…poll 2… did the test for a brick wall…great grandfather on father’s side and great grandmother on mother’s side….yes, two surprises…a half nephew which caused quite a lot of upset in the family and a half 1C1R who is a delight

[@laurieallen8040]

AMAZING CONTENT. THANK YOU

[@AncestryUS]

We're so glad you enjoyed!

[@vickileighblais7463]

Yes I got my dna done through Ancestry

[@eharvey5058]

Love learning something new! Thanks

[@lees1328]

Do you happen to know when Familytree Maker 2024 will be available and where you can purchase it at?

[@sandrachalmbacher3726]

Very curious thinking about getting it

[@bassmanjez3842]

How soon do you think that parents 1 & 2 will be sub divided into Grandparent 1-4?

[@Bigway59]

Same question I have. This will help with my brick walls.

[@AimeeML]

Thank you so helpful!

[@pamo7541]

Being of unknown parentage, thrulines was very useful. Now I can’t access it, and as I can’t afford the new costs to access the matches or thrulines, I’m at a dead end.😢

[@jessikamoore5033]

It should be noted thru lines is only as good as the user's tree, so it can be incorrect.

[@kapmanrich]

I use ThruLines a lot. When I am Reviewing a link to a new DNA match, then look at the trees, there is a dna icon by some and not others. Can you explain? Also curious about how to edit or redo the tree that I picked earlier. Does it make a difference which tree I pick if it is correct?

[@ab_bling]

Thank you ❤

[@sherishaw-wn7nr]

Yes, I have taken a test

[@EileenSedilko]

I just watched this video and I am back to early 1800's in my Irish half and my German half. I got totally confused on the idea of creating a Matchlist. How can I get more clarification on this please?

[@lionheart830]

Love the color idea. I need to do this!

[@TracyBradshaw-t8g]

I have taken it twice! Got a big surprise!

[@SyrinxofOz]

I wish Ancestry also did mDNA and Y.

[@janicemorgan4629]

I always learn so much from watching your videos and I start making changes in my tree at the same time I am watching the video. I was able to add an emoji to my Grandparent but I can't figure out how to change the color of the emoji to match the color of my group. Is that something easy you can tell me how to do? Thanks, Janice

[@CristaCowan]

Sorry I'm just now seeing your comment. Did you get this figured out?

[@janicemorgan4629]

@@CristaCowan Not yet.

[@dianelapins]

I am redoing my groups the way Crista suggested with numbers 1-8 for my great grandparents. What do you do for people who I share a common ancestor that is a 2nd or 3rd great? Would it make sense to use 16 more groups to represent the next level and 32 for the next?

[@CristaCowan]

If the common ancestor is a 3x great-grandparent, I am still related to that person THROUGH one of my 8 great-grandparents.

[@Elke_KB]

I did the DNA test to break through brick walls. My parents and older siblings were immigrants. All my first cousins on my maternal side are 10-20 years older than me. My cousin comes up as a 1/2 uncle or granduncle, something like that. My husband's side it was to confirm I was researching correctly and help sort out his Newfoundland (endogamy) side.

[@kjmax1068]

The reason I took one is to track my countries of origin. I am trying to track our family from Antrim back to Scotland. Brick wall around late 1700's. I figure I have to go to parish records.

[@cathyvansky6054]

I wanted to find my birth family. I was adopted in CA, Closed adoption.

[@donatep]

Greetings from Curacao🇨🇼

[@staceybenson2259]

Just wanted to let you know that you currently cannot add multiple people to a color cluster. It is making you do it one at a time. Can you get that fixed?

[@gabbymcdaniel4736]

My surprise while doing my husbands tree was that matches came up with a maternal match when I definitely know it should be a paternal match. And not just one. Many many many had this “problem”. And vice a versa. The clear (and very interesting) part of my husbands dna is that his mother is 100% Portuguese and my husband is 52% Portuguese. His dad has like 1 to 2 % Portuguese in him. Very perplexing to me.

[@dare2dreambig313]

I have a couple questions to ask you since the representative on the ancestory site wasn't helpful. First question- I am the only living person on both sides of my family so will the DNA test still be beneficial for me to take and if so, how do I purchase a DNA kit. Second question is my trial membership ended several years ago so I am not sure which deal will be the best for me. I am leaning towards the $49 plan. Please share your thoughts on both of these questions. Thank you so much.

[@nancymccurdy9550]

Crista, I make one of my groups with the ? and use if I'm not sure if I'm 100% sure of the match. For instance, sometimes Common Ancestor says Paternal, but the match indicates Maternal. Or if there are no common matches with any of my groups, I use the ?

[@sherishaw-wn7nr]

I took the test to find my biological family

[@melanybare6922]

I have taken the DNA test.

[@Reign-Drop]

Hi Christa, quick question. Are SNPs and Centimorgans the same unit of measurement? If not, can you please explain the difference(s)? I’m adopted and new at this! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[@tomask1436]

Briefly, SNP is a single "value" in your DNA but centimorgan is a unit of length relative to each chromosome.

[@Reign-Drop]

@ Thank you!

[@juliebeech7038]

On some of my matches there is a common ancestor BUT the parental side is from the opposite side of the Common match. How can this be? Also when I look at my daughters results my sisters children are listed as being on both sides and I am unassigned!! Why?

[@epeterson443]

Will Ancestry ever allow DNA transfers? My mother in law could only take the swab test and I would love to transfer the DNA to Ancestry.

[@michellehicks8357]

QUESTION When creating account, am I supposed to use birth last name or current married name? What about middle initial? TIA

[@CristaCowan]

Your account name can be whatever you would like. I would recommend that you use your maiden name and your married name - for example, Jane Smith Williams. This way your matches can better identify you. In your family tree, however, you should always enter women by their maiden name and their maiden name only. The system automatically recognizes that a woman may go by her husband's surname and he is attached in the tree.

[@ktsummrsll]

I have tested my siblings ,parents, and also an aunt do you label the dna matches for each family member separately or only your own dna matches.

[@CristaCowan]

All custom groups are the same regardless of whose test results/match list I am looking at. So, I have groups 1-8. My dad has groups 1-4. My grandma only has groups 1-2.

[@janbohler7926]

I have taken the AncestryDNA test

[@Disblair]

Easy for you to group the DNA matches you showed us because you knew who they all were! I think it would have been helpful to show in more detail how to group matches, especially as you get further down the match list. Why don’t you use the “Leeds” method?

[@SamStone1964]

I group based on shared matches.

[@CristaCowan]

Personally, I ONLY group matches once I know exactly who they are and how they are related to me and have placed them in my family tree. Until then, they don't get put into one of the main 8 groups. When I am working on an unknown parentage case is the only time I group matches into four groups so I can quickly sort in order to identify who all four biological grandparents are.

[@vantra182]

I took the DNA test when it was first offered. It has been invaluable. However, I have matches when I choose whether they are a paternal or maternal match. I've chosen paternal matches only to have ancestry tell me that the matches are maternal. I've researched and the person has proven to be a paternal match. I know their place in my tree and how we're related. Could we be related on both sides of my family even though ancestry hasn't indicated this? This has happened several times, I generally leave it as a paternal or maternal match.

[@deenaberton9909]

You might be running into endogamy.

[@SongbirdFlyingSoFree]

I have to figure out how to fix my research. Somewhere along the way I missed a label on a connection and it got mixed about 4 generations back with current and I can't figure out where the error is that caused the big mash-up. Its overwhelming to try to fix it.

[@CarolAnn61]

Can't wait for the next video. I use FTM with Ancestry and have color coded them the same without using an emoji in the suffix field. I dont even know how to do that LOL.

[@customerservice4122]

When you show your match list, I noticed you have high matches (like your aunt Lenore) that do not have the blue DNA symbol. Does that mean you haven't attached their DNA into your tree? And is there a reason you wouldn't?

[@CristaCowan]

I do a lot of video and conference demonstrations about how to connect and disconnect matches so sometimes things get disconnected and I just forget to reconnect them. 😊😊

[@rover790]

My husband and I have taken an Ancestry DNA test as have our two sons. I can't understand why they have DNA matches that I or my husband don't. Are these false matches?

[@BrandonCourrege-d2g]

Greetings Crista Happy Holidays.

[@KerryA-w4y]

Just wondering what the best way is to input the information from your matches to your tree given it initially is a guessing game till confirmed with sources, especially for those you don't know eg I have found an entire branch of matches who appear to link to my great grandfather but I cannot tell if it is from the other familys male or female (either my ggrandfathers son or daughter). How should you input these knowing you will be making changes.

[@juliehenthorne7281]

A layer of genetic evidence. To go back farther on my paternal paternal side and understand who they were. Cannot go back farther, they were from what is Poland today.

[@jomeyer13]

I always did a tree so i had that. I do not know what a new person newly tested matching look like without surnames / I often see two names on a tree and half the time they are private. i have niece who will start. I doubt she will put in a big tree of names. I have no idea what the matching list she will get will look like?

[@mareeevans5746]

I have myself and my father tested. My parents come from very different ethnic/regional backgrounds, the only overlap area is Germany but that is distant on my father's side. My father is marked as Both Sides in my DNA Matches. I am wondering if there is a way to find out why? as I can't find an obvious group of matches that can show where the possible connection to my maternal side is.

[@SyrinxofOz]

A DNA test showed that my eldest sister was only a half-sister. This was 1 year after she died. Mum and Dad are both gone, so no questions answered. It means that my mother married my father whilst pregnant with someone else's baby. Mum would never admit she was pregnant when they got married, but the calendar doesn't lie, and neither does DNA, so theres no way she would have fessed up to that!

[@joycebriscoe3687]

Yes I have

[@jessikamoore5033]

My results could not be used to find a possible great grandpa because I didn't share enough cMs with anyone for it. I had to use several of my cousin's results to form a hypothesis but I still cannot pinpoint who the possible great grandpa was.

[@barbaralyn7019]

If I am looking for my paternal grandfather's parents, what level do I make groups for? I'm confused. You talk about finding your grandparent's parents, and then you make groups for your grandparent's parents. I don't know who they are; I can't make group with their names. So does that mean that I can only make groups at the generation level that I know all of them? That would be my grandparents; I know all of them. Do you have a video about how to do this just to find an unknown great grandparent?

[@KyHillbilly2010]

I had to place IT tech support issue with mine... The relationship matches aren't showing correctly for myself and my father.. Instead of father/daughter it shows as if we are 1/2 siblings or niece/nephew. Everything else in the trees are correct. Weird. I hope IT Tech can correct this..

[@CristaCowan]

How many centimorgans of DNA do you share with your dad?

[@KyHillbilly2010]

@@CristaCowan Ancestry DNA says 1,844 cM | 26% shared DNA 45 segments and they won't rerun the samples. He is my father and not my uncle!! Also would it make a difference that my mother was a RH blood and when I was born I needed a blood transfusion and a 2 cousin donated the blood

[@jomeyer13]

i usually filter my viewing. lately ancestry doesnt hold the filter and i constantly have to reset it. frustrating.

[@CristaCowan]

Filter your viewing of what?

[@donatep]

How come we can only see our matches in the US and Europe but not in the Caribbean like Curacao and we also have trouble seeying Suriname?

[@CristaCowan]

Anyone who has taken an AncestryDNA test can login to Ancestry using the same email they used to activate their test and see their complete match list.

[@bettyevans1884]

To help with finding other relatives and also brick walls.

[@KarenL8426]

Something not usual, my parents are siblings. Because my aunt is related to me on both sides. She shows 45-52% 2,703 cMs. She is listed as my full sibling. In the predicted relationship chart does not give me the option to choose aunt.

[@kathrynludrick4821]

I've seen something similar in one of the trees I'm working on, where a woman married her uncle. There were several others who married close family members.

[@jessikamoore5033]

Did you mean to say your parents are siblings or are they cousins, if they are siblings I am so sorry that's not good at all.

[@ordiekelleher2641]

Hello from western Colorado ! I found more levels of my relatives. On someone's ancestory. Brunkers.😊

[@jomeyer13]

Where did you get the color heart emogie?

[@CristaCowan]

I just copied it and pasted it into the SUFFIX field. 😉😉

[@bettyyeager6611]

Yes taken test

[@irishdawn8387]

I just wish there was a way to do thru lines without making my tree public because there are family members that does not want my family tree public on he internet for privacy reasons

[@shondafeather1795]

Why is it my colored numbered groups don't show in order like yours do? I have a sister who shares all 8 groups and I added them in order (they are labeled identical to yours) yet the colored numbered squares do not show in order of number. They show as 2, 8, 4, 5, 7, 3, 6, 1. I would love if I could get the numbers in order.

[@marieantoine8502]

I have taken a DNA test

[@ValerieGarton]

How to colour code matches in a OneName study

[@dianaharkins7975]

I have taken the test.

[@CarolAnn61]

I see we have 64 colours now. How do you think we should use those?

[@CristaCowan]

I'm still working out a system for myself. As soon as I figure it out, I will share it with y'all. 😉😉

[@jaylenear871]

I want to find out if we are related to Jon Jay, I haven't taken the test but some of my children, brothers, sister and mother have... And though I have tried to follow us back I have only made back to my great great grandfather who says his parents were in Tennessee, but I was unable to find any record of them

[@renecolin1597]

I have an 85 year old spouse we have tried several times for her to fill the vile she cannot come up with one drop of syliliva. A nurse friend suggested having her smell horseradish still no results. I contacted Ancestry they tell me this is the only test they will accept any suggestions

[@willmitchell2553]

Go to my Heritage and all you do is swab the inside of her cheeks to get sample

[@kathrynludrick4821]

There's several OTC products for dry mouth, which I used on my mom. You might try that. They come in a small spray bottle.

[@cheriebolender8765]

I've taken the test

[@nancymccurdy9550]

I have Pro Tools, but can I turn it off temporarily?

[@jessikamoore5033]

In my 1rst cousin's case I am unsure what happened with his results, he is still showing unassigned to a cousin on his mom's side that is 400 some cMs and the same on our side we share so his paternal, our half 1c1r they are still unassigned. There should be enough dna to read to properly assign them, and no his mom I don't see being related to our half 1c1r as they are fully Italian which his mom has none of. His dad is also tested which should have helped.

[@cindyjones2519]

yes

[@michellehicks8357]

QUESTION...I have been working on my Ancestry tree on my account...and filled in my parents...but I have a suspicion that my father is not biological...I supposedly have a half sister if he is my dad. Will the result show if he is in fact my father??? I am not sure if half sister did Ancestry or 23 n me. I was born in a different country. TIA I had dual citizenship until I joined the military. Imagine if I had a father from that country.

[@CristaCowan]

Sorry I'm just seeing this comment. Did you get this figured out?

[@michellehicks8357]

@CristaCowan waiting for dna results thank you!

[@shirleyjbaker1096]

👋 Raleigh NC 😊

[@larrywilson3821]

Okay, its Larry again have taken the DNA Test

[@marieantoine8502]

I want to know where my ancestors came from before they. End up in Haiti

[@Jessica-g4z2g]

I did it to know if i look like my stepdad for a reason or just coincidence but i got a mystery very few paternal matches and even less with trees feels like doing a jigsaw puzzle without a picture and not enough piece's

[@BarbLaFara]

When was this recorded?

[@1SassyCrafter]

She has a schedule on her website. It looks like this may have been recorded on Dec 11th?

[@culotYoutube-h5d]

Why